Staying Power!

How many times have you found yourself saying “I’m going to have a fresh start on Monday”? For some of us this is a common weekly or, in some cases, daily mantra. This generally refers to starting afresh with a new diet plan or restarting a fitness program that we abruptly stopped due to work getting in the way, or our social life taking its toll. We even blame a hectic family life for not continuing with a ‘diet’ or workout routine BUT please do not take it out on the kids! So why do we fall off the healthy lifestyle wagon so easily and find ourselves living the life of Bill Murray in Groundhog Day? Normally it’s because the diet or exercise schedule is not designed to complement our regular work/life routine. This makes it difficult to sustain for any prolonged period of time, ultimately ending in those dreaded words “I’m going to have a fresh start on Monday.” The easiest way to avoid this trap is to make simple lifestyle changes one at a time. By lifestyle changes I mean things that we can introduce into our daily routine to enhance our well-being, without having to take to a retreat and cut ourselves off from civilisation. This could be simply taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator, eating less processed foods, cutting out fizzy drinks, reducing alcohol intake or getting to bed earlier. One change at a time, you are taking a step in the right direction on the path to a better you. Now you might be thinking what does this have to do with PR? Well as you are all aware we all have busy jobs that are fully loaded with long hours, 101 jobs and stress and sometimes it is even hard to come up for a breath of fresh air till eventually we break and find ourselves brewing another cup of coffee. Well start taking that first step to a better you and your find it will have a positive knock on effect with your work. Researchers at the University of Bristol found with a study of 200 people that employees who enjoyed a workout before work or at lunch were better equipped to handle whatever the day threw at them. Sounds good? 72% improved time management, 79% said sharper mental and interpersonal performance and 74% said they managed their workload better and if all of that doesn’t swing it for you it also showed that people’s general moods improved…… and no one wants to work alongside an ill-tempered, irritable colleague.